Page 35 of Christmas in the Shadows

Relief swept through her. He was okay.

He tapped on her passenger door, and Chelsea hit the button to unlock it. As Tex folded himself inside, she threw the car back into Park.

Before she could talk, Tex rushed with, “Are you sure you’re okay? Did he hurt you? Do I need to get you to the hospital?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

He studied her as if he were a human lie detector who could spot the truth.

Chelsea cringed and touched her neck where the man had pressed his arm into her windpipe.

She wasn’t sure if her skin would bruise or not. But his touch had definitely left an emotional scar on her.

“I’m fine. Really.” She paused and studied Tex’s face.

He still didn’t appear to believe her.

“He could have killed you,” he finally said.

“Thankfully, you were close.”

“But what if I hadn’t been?”

All the fluid left her face again. “But you were. By the way, whatwereyou doing here?”

“What wereyoudoing here?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip, not sure she was ready for Tex to turn the tables on her.

“You followed me, didn’t you?” she countered. “Why would you follow me?”

He frowned but kept his eye contact with her. “I was afraid you were in trouble, especially after the break-in earlier. I just needed to know you were okay. Right now, I’m glad I decided to follow you. It could have been ugly.” Tex paused. “What’s going on? Chelsea? Don’t push me out. Not now.”

She pressed her eyes shut, wishing she didn’t have to dive into this with him. But he had saved her. It seemed like the least she could do was to offer an explanation.

“Ryan needed my help,” she stated. “So I came out here to meet him.”

“Who is Ryan?”

“He’s one of my cousins. He didn’t live here when you did. His family moved back this way probably four years after you left.”

“And why did you need to meet him so late at night? Why out here?”

She licked her lips. “He’s been having trouble making ends meet, and he and his wife have a newborn baby at home. I like to help him out when I can.”

Tex continued to stare at her. “That still doesn’t explain the secrecy of it all.”

Chelsea pushed out a long breath. “His wife doesn’t approve of handouts—and I respect that. But they’re having trouble keeping their heat on. I can’t let Regina’s pride put the baby in harm’s way. So I slip him some money whenever I can.”

Tex said nothing.

“He works,” she continued explaining herself. “At a factory in Roanoke, and he doesn’t get off until midnight. That’s why we were meeting at this hour.”

“And the location?”

“It’s on his way home, so it’s not going to look funny if his wife checks his location online.” She frowned. “Part of me hates to be sneaky. But if I can help them, then I want to.”

“That’s admirable of you. But considering everything that’s happened, you shouldn’t have come out here alone. I would have come with you if you’d asked.”

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